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Shadow closed his eyes and sat back in his chair. “Where did you find this place? This is amazing food.”
“Just down the street. The building is nothing at all to look at, but I followed the smell, and I must say, I’m pretty happy.”
“Great choice. I may eat Jalen’s portion and not tell him you bought extra.” He gave her a wicked smile.
She poked him in the side. “Don’t you dare. He went on and on about the shrimp. I think he’d love these.”
Shadow chuckled, so quietly it was almost to himself. “He would for sure.”
Riley’s phone made a noise in her bag, and she fished it out. A text had come from her neighbor, Mrs. Lewis.
Your mother’s car is out front.
She frowned and put her phone back in her bag.
“Everything okay?” Shadow motioned to her bag with his fork. “You don’t look happy about that text.”
Debating for a second if she wanted to say anything, Riley bit her lower lip. “Do you mind if I make a quick call?”
“Go ahead. You can step out onto the deck if you need privacy.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s okay. It’s nothing, really.”
He went back to his clams, and she punched in Mrs. Lewis’s name. The woman answered quickly. “Riley?”
“Hi Mrs. Lewis.”
“I’m sorry to bother you. I know you’re on a job. I just got worried when I saw her car.”
“Dad told me she was going to stop by.”
“Do you want me to go over there?”
Dorothy Lewis had lived in the apartment next to her father for ten years now. She was the sweetest woman, alone now since her husband passed away. She was always willing to check on Dad, or help with anything. But she didn’t want to send her over to deal with her mother. That was asking too much. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”
“I just worry about your father.”
“That’s so kind of you. I’m sure it will be fine. My mother will leave after she gets what she wants.”
“But your poor father…”
Riley’s heart filled. Mrs. Lewis knew all about her mother and what she was like. “It’s okay.”
“Oh, wait. I think I see her leaving. Just a second.” Rustling noises sounded, and Dorothy came back on the line. “Yes. She’s getting in her car. When she leaves, I’ll go check on your father.”
“You’re a good woman, Dorothy.”
“You know I can’t sleep well unless I know he’s okay.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“Goodbye, dear. I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Bye.” Riley hung up and slipped her phone back in her bag. An awkwardness hung in the air between her and Shadow as he pretended not to have heard the whole conversation. But he had heard, and she knew he had questions.
“That was the neighbor. She worries about my father.”
“Oh?” He didn’t say anything else, but she could feel the unasked questions in the air. He was being polite. She appreciated that.
